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Over at Amazon, they have a new Bosch 18V cordless power tool combo kit listing, GXL18V-496B22, and it’s priced at a surprisingly-low $179. (Update: There’s some funny business behind the product listing, so don’t get your hopes up as I did.)

In a post the other day, I spent some time looking into combo kit options, to find the Best Dewalt Cordless Combo Kit available right now. The first comment was by Jared, who said: “The one I would buy would be any Bosch combo kit 😁.” So, that got me looking at Bosch 18V cordless combo kits, something I hadn’t done in a very long time.

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It didn’t take long before I found a new Bosch 4-tool combo – so new it isn’t shipping yet – at almost too good to be true pricing.

But, looking closer at the Amazon listing, there are numerous errors and inaccuracies. I compiled the tool list by cross-referencing the model number with Bosch. Bosch’s description matches up with the model number and product photo, but Amazon’s description is for a completely different product.

Amazon’s product description says that this kit comes with a GSR18V-190B22 drill/driver, which from this separate listing looks to be a brand new entry price point cordless drill that’s more powerful than their previous offering (DDB181). (Note, DDB181 is the previous budget entry, DDS181 and DDS181A are Compact Tough models.)

Bosch’s listing, and the photo, shows the DDS181A, which is their typical “Compact Tough” model, which delivers up to 600 in-lbs of max torque.

Amazon’s listing mentions GDR18V-1400 as the 2-in-1 impact driver. I guess that would be a new lower-priced and less powerful version of their recent GDX18V-1600 2-in-1 impact driver/wrench. The 4-tool combo is said to include the GDX18V-1600.

In addition to including the standard drill/driver and new standard impact driver/wrench, the 4-tool combo kit comes with a compact reciprocating saw and the new LED worklight.

It looks to me like Amazon’s description is for a new entry price point version of a recent Compact Tough and 2-in-1 impact driver/wrench combo kit. That new combo kit was recently listed at $199.

It’s unclear what’s going on here. Either the model number and photo are inaccurate, or the product description is inaccurate.

The model number and photo shows a Bosch 18V 4-tool cordless combo kit at an extremely appealing and hard to pass up $179 price. But the product description describes the combo kit as an entry price point 2-tool combo kit.

Part of me wants to place an order to see what happens, the other part of me is a little hesitant. Since they show a 4-tool combo kit in the photo and product listing, and the model number agrees with that, any error on their part, such as if they ship a 2-tool combo instead, would likely be eligible for free “inaccurate website description” return.

All I know is that, if this Bosch 18V 4-tool cordless combo kit does ship is promo-priced at $179, that’s an excellent deal.

Ah, what the heck, I’m in for one. *Crossing my fingers* that it’s not a mistake, or if it is, it’s one in my/our favor.

The listing says temporarily out of stock, which usually means they’re waiting for initial inventory.

It’s got to be a mistake. Right?

*I’m in for one!* (2 minutes later…) Wait. No. *Cancelled my order.*

Update: This listing doesn’t show up under “GXL18V-496B22” thru Bosch Tool’s affiliate link listing, making it more likely that someone messed up with the photos and model numbers than with the description. Bummer. It does show up under their link for GXL18V-26B22, which looks to be the entry price point 2-tool combo the listing describes. Double bummer.

Note: ToolGuyd is not responsible for any raised hopes, expectations, or eventual hassles or frustrations you might experience if this “deal” turns out to be a big mistake. Logically, it HAS to be a mistake.

My initial belief was that the product description is wrong. I’ve seen that happen before, quite often in fact.

But now, I’m wondering if perhaps the model number and photos are all wrong.

A small part of me is holding onto the hope that the model number, photos, and price are all accurate, and it’s the description that is not, and that this is some kind of loss-leader “special buy” that Bosch hopes bring plenty of new users to their 18V platform.

But after working through this post, rewriting major parts of it several times, and going through the process of placing and then cancelled my order for 1 of the kits, I’m heavily leaning towards believing this to all be a big mistake, and not one that would work out to our favor.

23 Comments

Not as impressive, but I was at Lowe’s yesterday, and they had a promo stand with the Bosch CLPK22-120 kits (PS31 drill/driver + PS41 impact driver I believe) for $99. If I hadn’t just bought a kit with the PS21 & PS41 for a good price I would’ve been tempted.

They also had a Bosch 18V right angle drill on clearance for $83.

I’m looking for an impact rated drill kit with hex shanks to use with the PS21 & PS41, but am trying to learn more first – the best match I saw was a Bosch kit for $20, made in China.

I saw the same kit on an Amazon Father’s Day deal listing today too. Was planning to post about it tomorrow or even Wednesday, once I was able to sort through a bunch of similar seasonal deals.

For impact-rated drill bits, I have steered clear of them for so long, but have been buying Milwaukee Shockwave. They’re decent for the money, and no hex shank woes. I still like regular drill bits, but the Shockwaves have worked out nicely for me.

For impact screwdriver bits, I have a good amount of Shockwave bits, and some Dewalt, and a bunch of Bosch. Bosch has been my favorite, ever since I bought a set of the new bits on sale last summer.

I’m not a big proponent of impact rated drill bits, but I think a set could be a useful addition since I have the PS21 pocket driver and two impact driver. The set I saw at Lowe’s is the Bosch TI9IM 9 piece set; looks like it’s available for about $10 online, which is reasonable.

If you’re able to find it at your local Home Depot, there is a Milwaukee Shockwave 20pc Drill Bit Set, model 48-49-4682 (HD Sku 1002804930) that is clearancing out. Originally 19.88 (and still at that price online), it was advertised at $10-something in my store but had actually been reduced all the way to $5.00. There is an accompanying 52pc Driver Bit Set, model 48-32-4068 (can’t find the SKU but UPC is 045242507054), at that same pricing. My store was out of the drill bet sets, but had several of the driver bit sets. Other local stores showed quantity in stock of the drill bit set. Unfortunately due to it having been a Special Buy SKU in the stores, it doesn’t show up as available in-store on their website, thus making it impossible to determine which stores still have inventory without visiting or calling. So-so deals at $19.88, great deals at $10. An absolute steal at $5.00

I just finished up doing a wheel bearing and brakes with the original brushless Bosch 18v 1/2 hybrid impact. It’s one of my all time favorite tools. Breaks lug nuts every time and nearly any other bolt it can reach along with being a generally comfortable and easy to handle tool for driving fasteners. Some consider it a gimmick, but I have used the heck out of mine for a year or so.

I wouldn’t be surprised if they were on sale for that price. Bosch needs something to get people buying their 18v stuff. And every YouTube comparison video I’ve seen, Bosch has never performed well and I can’t see paying what they ask for the 18v tools. In the 20 years I’ve been a contractor, I have never seen any other Bosch tool on a jobsite other than the rotary hammer and laser tape. I’ve seen the miter saw once or twice. I’ve always thought that they were a high end diy brand in terms of cordless tools. I know that their miter saw is supposed to be awesome and it should be for what they’re asking. They’re very proud of their table saw as well, but I haven’t really seen much on it other than the lawsuit from a while ago.

I’m going to go out on a limb and say a lot of that may have to do with Home Depot only carrying the rotary hammers and laser levels at their stores. A Home Depot credit card is very easy to obtain. 2 and 2 together and all of that.

From my experience owning Bosch 18v their tools may not be the highest performing in each category but they are basically designed to last a lifetime. Also I’m super impressed at their new core 6.3 ah batteries (best design on the market).

So based on this thread I actually went into one of are area Lowe’s and was again appalled. No consistency to their tool brand stocking, clearance patterns or knowledge of product. At least in Portlandia HD clobbers them!
Dang. Oh and one dented, half the drawers locked SS rollaround. At full retail though online it’s listed as a clearance item. Criminy.

Seems you were right to say this was too good to be true. Clicking the link now and it’s just a drill/driver combo. Additionally, not even the DDS-181-A with the metal chuck, but a plastic chuck model. Also not the brushed combo impact, instead a regular impact. Underwhelming to say the least.

Have a good friend looking to get a basic set and that would have been perfect for him. Oh well, I’ll keep looking!

There are some other 4-tool combo kits that I’ve been considering posting about.

Bosch CLPK495A-181, and CLPK496A-181. They’re both $229, featuring the same drill, a brushed motor impact driver (the one I own and still love at times), the same reciprocating saw, and different LED worklight choices.

But $179 for similar kits that included the new 2-in-1 impact? Sadly, nope.

The entry-level combo kit is not a good buy at $179. Why buy that when you can buy a combo with the better drill and better impact driver, CLPK232A-181, for $149?

Should have stuck with it… Amazon initially shipped the GXL18V-26B22 2 Piece Drill & Impact Driver (now $189), which your link from above now points to. After a chat with customer service they agreed since it was their mistake and they have now changed the listing they would refund the difference for the GXL18V-496B22 4 Piece kit you initially posted… which is now listed for $379. Just received the kit today and agree with your initial assessment… it was quite a steal for $179!